Child To Champion 2017 – Full Weekend Schedule

We are pleased to finally be able to confirm the full schedule of talks and practicals for next weekend’s conference. We are very excited to be bringing together 12 top presenters currently working in the UK, Europe, the US and the Middle East delivering 16 sessions (including theory and practical) across the weekend.

This is sure to be a great opportunity to learn and share ideas around the topic of LTAD. We are very excited to meet everyone next weekend.

Des will be providing an insight to the Physical Development Framework he has developed and implemented with his team over the last four years at the Arsenal Academy

The talk will provide attendees a detailed insight to the programme and processes in place at the Academy including:

The development of the facilities at the Academy

Building and developing a sport science team

Physical Development Framework Levels

The player-coach relationship

Application of the FMS system as a screening tool

Tackling flexibility and mobility issues around PHV.

Strength training progressions – A 4 level system.

Speed and power development

Integrated Conditioning

Sports Medicine and Injury Reports & Monitoring

Des Ryan – MSc, ASCC, BASES (HPSA), CSci

Des joined Arsenal in February 2013 after a successful strength and conditioning career in the rugby world. Des is the Head of Sport Medicine and Athletic Development at the Academy. Over the last four years the Academy sport science and medicine department has grown under the guidance of Des to rival any club in the premier league. The Academy has continued its long tradition of developing players for the first team. Des and his team endeavour to prepare the players physically for the challenge of the Premier League.

In the past Des worked for the IRFU as fitness education manager and his responsibilities involved managing the Continued Professional Development (CPD) programme for IRFU strength and conditioning coaches and managing the fitness development structures for rugby players in under-19 sides and below. Before that, Des worked as head fitness advisor at Connacht Rugby from 1998 to 2008. During this time he had worked with the Ireland A rugby team for three years and assisted with the Ireland senior team.

Des has completed a Masters in Strength and Conditioning and is also a tutor with the IRFU and a tutor trainer with World Rugby. In 2016 Des completed the BASES high performance sport accreditation. He has a keen interest in the area of long-term player development and has presented at many conferences around the world over the last few years.

Book tickets for Child to Champion 2017 and hear more from John Radnor

If you want to be there to learn, share and connect with our speakers like John you can book on to Child To Champion 2017 here and take advantage of the PUSH Special offer which currently includes access to last years videos (worth £150) courtesy of our sponsors PUSH for a limited time only.

Core Training from Elementary to Elite

There will be brief Powerpoint introduction on the subject of Trunk training, which will explain the importance of this topic, and how it pertains to ALL other areas of training. In particular, the subject of correct breathing will be covered, as well as a logical progression of core exercises that the delegates can use as a template in your future sessions.

The hands-on session will include a number of exercises designed to develop core stability, and will also engage the athletes, young and old, through gameplay and partner-interaction. You will learn how a simple ping-pong ball can replace untold reps of push-ups and planks, how wheel-barrow races can both challenge simple anti-rotation stability for the novice child right up to neural challenges for the elite athlete. Crawling patterns will be covered to show how they can develop both core stability, and also compliment locomotion training (speed & agility). You will laugh, learn, sweat and burn in this hands-on.

Biography

Shane is a Strength and Conditioning coach, based in Galway, Ireland. He is also a 7th degree Black Belt (Master) Taekwon-Do instructor and a 6-time World Champion in Taekwon-Do & Kickboxing.

Holder of a B.Sc. from National University of Ireland, Galway, Shane has always had a passion for exercise, and qualified as a gym instructor with ITEC in 2001. In the years that followed, Shane has been busy coaching his martial arts students as well teams and individuals from other sports. Besides obtaining National Certificate in Strength & Conditioning, Shane is Functional Movement Screening (FMS) certified and a member of the prestigious Register of Exercise Professionals Ireland (REPS Ireland). Shane is, also, a member, in good standing, of the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA)

Shane coaches numerous adults, and has a particular vocation for coaching young athletes. He was voted International Youth Coach of the Year 2015, by the International Youth Conditioning Association (IYCA), making history as the first winner outside of North America.

In 2012, Shane authored the highly acclaimed book, “Training and Optimal Health for Sports”, which is available from Amazon, and the dedicated site www.trainingandoptimalhealth.com In it, he has shared more than twenty years of experience, training and competing at the highest levels of his sport, as well as the secrets of his longevity, not having retired from competition until 38, a double World Champion that year.

Having a passion for working with other S&C coaches and P.E. teachers, Shane has conducted workshops for the NSCA in Colorado Springs, Limerick Institute of Technology S&C Degree Course, and the Physical Education Association of Ireland (PEAI), amongst others.

In 2015/2016, Shane, frustrated with the deterioration of Physical Literacy across all age groups of children, ran a year-long voluntary pilot programme with a local Primary School. The project received much acclaim and was televised. It can be seen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlP1UiWknfw

Book tickets for Child to Champion 2017 and hear more from Shane Fitzgibbon

If you want to be there to learn, share and connect with our speakers like Shane you can book on to Child To Champion 2017 here and take advantage of the PUSH Early Bird Special offer which currently includes FREE access to last years videos (worth £150) courtesy of our sponsors PUSH for a limited time only.

The Influence of Growth and Maturation on Muscle Architecture and Physical Performance.

Overview – Throughout childhood and adolescence, children are able to jump higher and sprint faster, but do we know the specific mechanisms behind these improvements in power output?

The aim of this talk is to discuss how the alterations in muscle architecture that occur during maturation can influence children’s ability to produce explosive force. The presentation will include an overview of the role muscle architecture plays in influencing performance, and will revolve around early findings from my PhD studies, investigating the influence of muscle architecture on sprinting and jumping performance in young athletes.

Biography

John is an associate lecturer in strength and conditioning on the BSc Sports Conditioning, Rehabili​tation and Massage (SCRAM) degree at Cardiff Metropolitan University. He is an accredited coach through the UK Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA), and currently works with Welsh Rowing as S&C for their high performance and academy squads. He has also delivered a number of workshops to various National Governing Bodies on youth strength and conditioning related topics. John is also undertaking a PhD in Paediatric Exercise Science, investigating the effects of muscle architecture on performance.

Book tickets for Child to Champion 2017 and hear more from John Radnor

If you want to be there to learn, share and connect with our speakers like John you can book on to Child To Champion 2017 here and take advantage of the PUSH Early Bird Special offer which currently includes FREE access to last years videos (worth £150) courtesy of our sponsors PUSH for a limited time only.

The Application of Growth & Maturation in Academy Football

Talk Overview:

During this presentation Matt will highlight why understanding growth & maturation and the impact it can have on performance is critical within an Academy football setting. He will then explain non-invasive methods that can be used to accurately ascertain an individual’s maturity status.

Following this he will give examples from his time at Southampton FC highlighting how such information can be used to influence training practice and exercise prescription. He will highlight how such an approach can help each individual, regardless of maturity status achieve their potential.

Biography:

Matt is an Academy Strength & Conditioning Coach at Southampton FC. He is UKSCA Accredited & holds a Masters degree in Paediatric Exercise & Health and a bachelors degree in English & Sports Science.

Matt has extensive experience working with youth athletes from a wide variety of sports including Rugby, Rowing & Cricket. Matt is passionate about youth athletic development & in particular how quantifying maturity status can optimise individual development.

Book tickets for Child to Champion 2017 and hear more from Matt Depledge

If you want to be there to learn, share and connect with our speakers like Matt you can book on to Child To Champion 2017 here and take advantage of the PUSH Early Bird Special offer which currently includes FREE access to last years videos (worth £150) courtesy of our sponsors PUSH for a limited time only.

#ChildToChampion’s Pete Atkinson – Pacey Performance Podcast

With the conference fast approaching we thought you might like to check out this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast with one of our Child To Champion Speakers, Pete Atkinson, National Lead for S&C at the ECB. Pete has vast experience working in rugby at Leicester Tigers through one of their most successful periods in history as well as the English Institute of Sport and now with the ECB.

In this episode you will learn –

Who is Pete Atkinson (background, experience and current role)

The ECB’s internal CPD programme

Transfer of training

Coordination training

At Child To Champion Pete will be providing a detailed insight to the ECB’s Pace Programme from this season’s winter training. You can check out the full talk overview here.

Book tickets for Child to Champion 2017 and hear from Pete Atkinson

If you want to be there you can book on to Child To Champion 2017 here and take advantage of the early bird pricing which includes FREE access to the pre-conference workshop.

Conference sponsors PUSH have put together a brilliant offer that includes the Full Weekend Conference ticket PLUS access last year’s Child To Champion conference videos (worth £150) completely free of charge. This offer is only available for a limited time, so don’t miss out!

#ChildToChampion’s Alex Natera – Pacey Performance Podcast

With the conference fast approaching (we are now less than 2 months out!) we thought we’d share some great content from some of our speakers from around the web.

As most in the S&C industry are, we are big fans of Rob Pacey’s Strength of Science and the Pacey Performance Podcast, it’s absolute gold for learning from leaders in the field.

A while back Rob interviewed Alex Natera across two episodes on the podcast, and for those attending Child To Champion this will give you a taste of what is to come from Alex’s talks at the conference in April.

In the episodes you will learn –

Part 1

Who is Alex Natera (background/education)

What Alex is doing now and who he is working with

Developing a sprint programme – where to start

Developing horizontal vs vertical force

Transfer of training from weight room to track/field

Part 2

How ‘repeated power’ differs from power endurance

Why this ISN’T CrossFit

What has been researched in the area

How can we train repeated power ability

Where is the research area heading and what does Alex expect to find

Book tickets for Child to Champion 2017 and hear from Alex Natera

If you want to be there you can book on to Child To Champion 2017 here and take advantage of the early bird pricing which includes FREE access to the pre-conference workshop on Friday 7th for the first 20 people that book.

Means and Methods for Eccentric Training

The eccentric capacities of an athlete are increasingly being recognized for their importance in injury reduction and sports performance. Coach Mike Young will present a variety of options for developing eccentric strength and power that he has used over the years. He will provide progressions that can be employed depending on the capacity and development of the athlete and discuss how eccentric training fits in to the annual and long term development plan.

Employing a Newtonian Model for Plyometric Progressions

In this talk, Coach Mike Young will discuss the importance of understanding the basic physics of plyometrics. Coaches will be provided an easy-to-digest mechanical model that can be applied to the development of plyometric progressions. Using this model, coaches can take the guess work out of jumps training and provide a safe and pedagogically sound training stimulus for athletes across the developmental continuum.

Biography

Mike brings the unique qualities of being a nationally recognized researcher, coach, and educator. His depth of knowledge and experience in the field of athletic development is evidenced by his stays at all three U.S. Olympic Training Centers as an athlete (Lake Placid), sport scientist (Colorado Springs & Chula Vista), and coach (Colorado Springs).

Mike has an undergraduate degree in Exercise Physiology, an MS in Athletic Administration and a PhD in Biomechanics. Mike has earned NSCA’s Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, is recognized by USA Weightlifting as a Club and Advanced Sport Performance Coach, a Crossfit Level 1 Certified Trainer, is one of less than 20 USA Track & Field (USATF) Level 3 coaches in the country and has a USATF Level 2 certification in 3 event areas.

Mike has served as the primary coach for national or international team qualifiers for several disciplines in Athletics, as well as Bobsleigh, Skeleton and Weightlifting. In the sport of Track & Field, he has coached or assisted multiple Olympians, National Champions, Masters National and World Champions and Collegiate National Champions. Additionally, he has served as the Strength & Conditioning coach for professionals in a wide range of sports including the NFL, MLB and MLS. He served as the Fitness Coach for the Vancouver Whitecaps of the MLS for the 2012 & 2013 seasons. Prior to that, Mike was the sport performance coach for the 2x NASL Champion Carolina Railhawks. Previously, Mike coached Athletics at the NCAA level at 4 Universities, most notably coaching 4 years at LSU where the team won 6 National Championships.

As an educator, Mike has been an instructor or professor at 3 universities and regularly guest lectures for academic institutions around the world. He is one of the most sought after speakers in the world on athletic development having spoken in Korea, the UK, Ireland, China, Japan, Jamaica, Canada in addition to the US. He has developed and taught curriculums for US Police Forces, USA Track & Field, and USA Weightlifting. Additionally, Mike is a prolific author, having written 2 book chapters, 2 books, and over 20 articles published in nationally distributed publications ranging from Maxim to Runner’s World. He is regularly featured on websites as far ranging as ESPN, BBC, WebMD and Greatist. Mike is equally qualified as a sport scientist and coach educator. His research on sprinting, stretching, balance and throwing activities have been published and presented in Regional, National and International journals and conferences and he is an invited editor for the Journal of Sports Sciences and Sports Biomechanics.

Book tickets for Child to Champion 2017 and meet Dr. Mike Young

If you want to be there to learn, share and connect with our speakers like Mike you can book on to Child To Champion 2017 here and take advantage of the early bird pricing which includes FREE access to the pre-conference workshop on Friday 7th for the first 20 people that book.

Tools for Developing Acceleration Skills in Young Athletes

In this practical Ed will share a progression of exercises; from floor-based challenges to explosive locomotor patterns.

This session will be a summary of the movements he has found to be most effective in coaching young athletes to develop good acceleration mechanics; improve starting speed and provide a coherent framework for lesson planning.

Speaker Bio

Ed has worked in professional Strength and Conditioning for 20 years. He has significant experience in a range of high performance settings, including Premiership Rugby and Formula 1.

For the past 10 years he has run a youth athlete development programme that in 2010 became the Athlete Academy.

He is a tutor and assessor for the UK Strength and Conditioning Association and is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the organisation. Ed is committed to increasing opportunities for young people to access accredited S&C Coaching.

Book tickets for Child to Champion 2017 and hear from Ed Archer

If you want to be there you can book on to Child To Champion 2017 here and take advantage of the early bird pricing which includes FREE access to the pre-conference workshop on Friday 7th for the first 20 people that book.

“Working through a continuum of progressions to challenge movement skill”

Through working in professional youth sport continually for the last 19 years Kevin has seen a huge variety of young athletes ranging in movement skill ability. By utilising a concept of progression of controlled change of direction drills moving into guided discovery style movement games he has found a formula for educating and linking specific physical drills to sport specific actions whilst having variation to stimulate the young inquisitive athlete, reinforce the growth spurt anxious athlete and challenge the older more developed athletes.

His session will focus on the group exploring the concept of:

1. Simple variation of a Change of Direction pattern drill through direction
2. Simple variation of a Change Of Direction pattern drill through repetition
3. Combination variations within a drill
4. Partner variations
5. Team variations

Attendees will be encouraged to participate irrelevant of fitness level as active participation is key to understanding the movement progressions and stimulating the coaches imagination and experiencing the concepts.

Biography

Kevin has worked in professional sports for over 18 years and is a BASES High Performance Sport Accredited Practitioner, BASES registered supervisor and reviewer, UKSCA accredited Strength & Conditioning Coach and NSCA course tutor. During his time in professional soccer and cricket he has studied extensively S & C and sport science practises worldwide using these experiences to consult for several international organisations including Nike, Scottish FA and delivered to universities and conferences nationally and internationally. His areas of specialism are firstly in classifying exercises in a progressive and regressive manner to target prioritising key areas of athletic development in cycles during the various stages of maturity. Secondly Kevin has been innovative in the use of physiological monitoring techniques to quantify and then classify the results to give a simplistic meaning for affecting the delivery of physical and technical training sessions to produce the desired individual specific responses within a team environment. Kevin possess well practised skills on developing individual player and squad relationships and fosters a low ego, collaborative personality combined with a dedication to continual professional development and strategic mind-set is a recipe for aligning to and developing any organisation he has been employed with to date.

Book now for Child to Champion 2017 and hear from Kevin Paxton

If you want to be there you can book on to Child To Champion 2017 here and take advantage of the early bird pricing which includes FREE access to the pre-conference workshop for the first 20 people that book. **Please note there are now only 9 Early Bird Tickets remaining**